Trails
What was the primary reason families traveled the Oregon Trail in the 1840s and 1850s? (Answer in 1–2 sentences.)
To find better farmland, economic opportunity, or for religious freedom (Mormons); to settle new territories in the West.
In what year did the California Gold Rush begin after gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill?
1848
In what year did the Texas Revolution lead to the Battle of the Alamo? (Give the year.)
1836
Give one immediate cause of the Mexican–American War (what event or dispute helped start it).
Dispute over the Texas border (Rio Grande vs. Nueces) and the Thornton Affair; annexation of Texas increased tensions.
In the classic Oregon Trail video game, what is a common cause of losing a party member on the trail? (one-word or short answer)
Disease (e.g., dysentery, cholera) or "disease" / "dysentery" / "cholera".
Name two major hazards or difficulties pioneers faced on long wagon trails like the Oregon Trail.
Disease (e.g., cholera), river crossings, limited food/water, weather, accidents.
What nickname was given to people who rushed to California seeking gold?
Forty-niners (or "49ers").
Who was the commander of Texan forces at the decisive Battle of San Jacinto?
Sam Houston
Name one territory the United States gained as a result of the Mexican–American War and the treaty that formalized it.
Mexican Cession (California, Nevada, Utah, parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming) via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848).
Name one resource players must manage in the Oregon Trail video game to help their party survive.
Food, ammunition, oxen, spare parts, or money.
Which trail led settlers from Independence, Missouri, toward the Southwest and present-day New Mexico?
The Santa Fe Trail.
Identify one economic and one social effect the Gold Rush had on California (one sentence each).
Economic: rapid population growth and boom towns; Social: dramatic demographic changes and increased immigrant populations.
Give one main cause of the Texas Revolution related to tensions between Anglo settlers and the Mexican government.
Settlers resented Mexican laws limiting slavery, required adherence to Mexican law, and cultural/linguistic differences.
Who was the U.S. president during the Mexican–American War?
James K. Polk
Explain how making choices about pace and rations in the game models real decisions pioneers faced (1–2 sentences).
Slowing pace and lowering rations conserves supplies and reduces risk of illness but lengthens travel time—mirrors real trade-offs pioneers faced.
Explain why the Mormon Trail differed from the Oregon Trail in destination and purpose.
The Mormon Trail led to the Salt Lake Valley for the purpose of religious refuge for Mormons; the Oregon Trail led settlers to Oregon Territory for farmland and opportunity.
Explain why mining towns often had boom-and-bust cycles during the Gold Rush.
Towns grew rapidly when gold was found and declined when easily accessible gold ran out, leaving many abandoned (boom-and-bust).
Explain how the outcome of the Texas Revolution affected U.S. expansionist pressure on Mexico (1–2 sentences).
Explain how the Mexican–American War and the resulting territorial gains intensified debates over slavery in the United States (1–2 sentences).
Adding vast new territories raised the question of whether slavery would expand into them, intensifying sectional conflict between North and South
In the game, players can go hunting. Describe one risk and one benefit of stopping to hunt during a wagon journey.
Risk: wasted time, use of food/ammunition, exposure to danger; Benefit: replenishes food and can improve morale/health.
Describe how the California Trail branched from the Oregon Trail and why some wagons chose that route.
The California Trail branched southwest toward the Sierra Nevada and Sacramento Valley; wagons chose it to reach goldfields or California farmland.
Describe at least two ways the Gold Rush affected Native American populations in California.
Displacement, violence, disease, and loss of lands and resources for Native American communities.
Describe the role of slavery and cultural differences in the conflict between Anglo settlers in Texas and the Mexican government.
Many Anglo settlers wanted to keep slavery for their plantations and clashed with Mexican laws that opposed slavery; cultural/legal differences increased mistrust and conflict.
Describe one military advantage and one challenge the U.S. faced in fighting the Mexican–American War.
Advantage: stronger navy, better resources and manpower; Challenge: fighting far from home, difficult supply lines, unfamiliar terrain, and political controversy.
Many versions of the game include random events (e.g., storms, broken axles). Explain how these mechanics teach players about the uncertainty of 19th-century overland travel.
Random events show how unpredictable factors (weather, illness, accidents) could change outcomes despite planning, teaching about uncertainty and risk.